The five Sydney Swans players stood down for their roles in the Pullman hotel saga will reportedly have to front their own legal costs as they face more uncertainty around their AFL futures. <\/p>\n
Sydney\u2019s season was derailed last month after a post-Round 23 victory celebration turned into a full-blown Victoria Police investigation and a subsequent standing down of five players \u2014 Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Chad Warner.<\/p>\n
According to The Age<\/a>, multiple AFL sources had confirmed league salary cap rules prevented the Swans, or anyone closely associated with the club, from covering the players\u2019 legal costs or any possible settlements. <\/p>\n The report added that the AFL Players\u2019 Association, which has been giving support to the players, \u201ccannot financially contribute\u201d to any legal costs.<\/p>\n It has been reported that Bice, who was one of five players stood down for breaching behavioural standards, had been cleared of any criminal conduct and was now being treated as a potential witness.<\/p>\n As for the others, who have engaged lawyers, they will have to pay their own individual legal costs, both for the ongoing sexual assault investigation and any separate civil lawsuits.<\/p>\n The three women at the centre of the police investigation have engaged civil lawyers.<\/p>\n It has also been revealed that at least one of the women at the centre of the scandal has returned to Victoria Police to provide further details regarding the events.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, detectives last week confirmed they\u2019d spoken with four people in NSW as part of their ongoing investigation into allegations of a sexual assault stemming from the incident at the Pullman Hotel.<\/p>\n News.com.au is not suggesting any of the players engaged in the conduct alleged, only that it has been alleged. <\/p>\n Swans stars stood down face uncertain AFL futures<\/p>\n The five players stood down by the club also now find themselves in a position where getting a move to another club is becoming increasingly tricky. <\/p>\n Police last week said they anticipated there would be no further updates on the case for around two months.<\/p>\n While the Swans said police had \u201cindicated the process may take some time to run its course\u201d.<\/p>\n The AFL trade period will take place from Monday October 5 to Wednesday October 14.<\/p>\n And with the outcome of Victoria Police\u2019s investigation likely not finished by mid-October, it would mean that any rival clubs willing to entertain a trade for any of the suspended Sydney players would almost certainly undertake the process without knowing the state of the investigation. <\/p>\n Yet according to The Age\u2019s Jake Niall, the AFL \u201cmay not reach a position\u201d on whether the quintet under investigation be allowed to move clubs during the October trade period.<\/p>\n Niall also reported that the Swans had \u201cnot guaranteed (the five players\u2019) positions with the club next year\u201d <\/p>\n It comes after The Age\u2019s Sam McClure reported last week that Blakey had voiced his desire to leave the Bloods due to \u201ca deterioration in his relationship with the club\u201d. <\/p>\n It followed Herald Sun chief football writer Jay Clark\u2019s report last month, which revealed Blakey was of interest to as many as eight Victorian clubs.<\/p>\n However, Swans football boss Leon Cameron on Saturday declared he was not of the belief that Blakey wished to depart the club. <\/p>\n Read related topics:Melbourne<\/a>Sydney<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The five Sydney Swans players stood down for their roles in the Pullman hotel saga will reportedly 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